Customization Options

Many options are available to customize NSSE administrations and reports in ways that maximize value for individual campuses as well as for groups of institutions that elect to participate in NSSE as a consortium or state system.

One of the important ways NSSE is customized for all participating institutions is in the survey administration process. Although NSSE handles various aspects of survey administration, the intent is for students to recognize that their college or university is soliciting their feedback. To achieve this, campuses customize student recruitment messages and use a consistent tone throughout their student communications. NSSE develops all messages so they appear to be from institution-designated signatories as well. Using an optional institutional logo for the online survey also reinforces the idea that individual colleges and universities administer NSSE.

Additional survey and report customization options include the following:

Survey Customization

Prompt for Open-Ended Student Comments

All participating institutions customize NSSE by selecting one of the following four open-ended comment prompts. Located on the final page of the online survey instrument, these prompts provide an opportunity for students to express their opinions freely about their college experience.

If you have any additional comments or feedback that you’d like to share on the quality of your educational experience, please enter them below.

What has been most satisfying about your experience so far at this institution, and what has been most disappointing?

Please describe the most significant learning experience you have had so far at this institution.

What one change would you most like to see implemented that would improve the educational experience at this institution, and what one thing
should not be changed?

NSSE participating institutions may append up to two Topical Modules - short sets of questions on designated topics such as academic advising, civic engagement, experiences with diversity, technology, and writing. Modules allow for deeper exploration of important areas based on campus needs. Participants may add up to one module for no extra cost, while adding a second module costs $250.

A consortium of five or more institutions may form around a common interest or mission and append a short set of customizable survey items (subject to NSSE review) or coordinate use of Topical Modules among consortium participants. Once a consortium coordinator registers, participating NSSE institutions then have an opportunity to enroll in the first phase of institutional survey customization (Sept-Oct). NSSE offers a consortium report to each coordinator, and individual institutions benefit by receiving reports using the additional survey items and data. Starting in NSSE 2019 fees for enrollment in a consortium range between $100-$400 depending on the use and types of additional questions added. More detailed information about consortia is available here.

State systems often coordinate their institutions' NSSE participation. Systems that do so receive side-by-side institutional comparisons and a member institution data file (data sharing agreements required for each institution). There is no fee for these services unless a system appends additional questions as a system consortium. View detailed information on system participation here.

Report Customization

Customizable Sample for Reporting (New!)

Institutions may identify the students to be used for reporting to best serve their institution’s assessment needs. Examples of customized reporting samples include first-time first-year or residential students (thus excluding continuing first-year or distance education students, respectively). Comparison groups, however, will still include all types of student respondents. Institutions should review NSSE’s population file instructions for additional information about identifying the sample to be used in their Institutional Report.

Major Field Report

Detailing engagement results by major categories has become increasingly important for many campuses as they try to inform department-level assessment. NSSE introduced the Major Field Report in 2009 to help make results more useful to programs and departments. For the purpose of this report, institutions may regroup the 85 student-reported majors into as many as eight new categories to match their profile of degrees offered. While default major groupings are available, NSSE strongly recommends institutions customize their Major Field Report. Click here to learn more. Also, view the webinars, "Beginning to Look Within: NSSE Reports by Major Field," and "Student Engagement in the Professions".

Creative Approaches to Customizing Comparison Groups

Consider these examples created by NSSE participating institutions as you customize your comparison groups:

Military Friendly – includes schools considered Military Friendly and "Student Veteran Rated"

40-60% Pell – peer institutions regarding percentage of total student population who are Pell grant recipients

Sweet 16 & Carnegie – institutions with the same Basic Carnegie Classification (Bac/Diverse: Baccalaureate Colleges--Diverse Fields) in 16 states from which the institution recruits

Cross-Application – institutions where students cross apply for admission

TOP US News Liberal Arts – schools on the Top 50 US News National Liberal Arts Colleges list

If you have any questions, or want to share your creative customization, please email your NSSE project service team.